DOCSLIB.ORG

Shoreline Geomorphology and Fringing Vegetation of the Gippsland

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Shoreline Geomorphology and Fringing Vegetation of the Gippsland Shoreline geomorphology and fringing vegetation of the Gippsland Lakes Paul Boon A, Neville Rosengren B, Doug Frood C, Alison Oates D & Jim E Reside AInstitute for Sustainability & Innovation Victoria University (Footscray Park campus) PO Box 14428, MCMC, Melbourne VIC 8001 BEnvironmental Geosurveys 1/22 Belmont Road, Ivanhoe VIC 3079 CPathways Bushland & Environment PO Box 360, Greensborough, VIC 3088 DOates Environmental Consulting, 2/44 School Avenue, Newhaven VIC 3925 EWildlife Unlimited PO Box 255, Bairnsdale, Victoria, 3875 Final − 28 October 2014 1 Contents 1. The Gippsland Lakes and its catchment − an introduction 3 1.1 Catchment geomorphology 4 1.2 Catchment geology 5 2. Geomorphology of the Gippsland Lakes 10 2.1 Origins 11 2.2 Sand barriers 15 2.3 Shoreline types 16 3. Fringing water-dependent vegetation of the Gippsland Lakes 20 3.1 Mangroves 22 3.2 Coastal saltmarsh 23 3.3 Other emergent woody vegetation 27 3.4 Other emergent non-woody vegetation 28 3.5 Fringing vegetation and freshwater subsides 31 4. The changing environment of the Gippsland Lakes 32 4.1 Early descriptions 32 4.2 The changing entrance to the lakes 35 4.3 Form and evolution 35 4.4 Salinity regimes & the permanent connection to the ocean at Lakes Entrance 36 4.5 River regulation and reductions in freshwater inflows 38 4.6 Sediment and nutrient loads 40 5 Environmental consequences of altered conditions 41 5.1 Shoreline erosion and retreat 42 5.2 Changes in fringing vegetation – loss of predominantly freshwater taxa 43 5.3 Changes in fringing vegetation – expansion of coastal saltmarsh and other halophytic taxa 47 6. Fringing vegetation and shoreline protection 48 6.1 The protective role of fringing vegetation 48 6.2 Re-instating fringing vegetation to protect coastal shorelines 49 7. The next steps 53 8. Cited references 53 2 1. The Gippsland Lakes and its catchment − an introduction The Gippsland Lakes consists of four large, shallow coastal lakes (Lake Wellington – 148 km 2; Lake Victoria – 78 km 2; Lake King – 97 km 2; and Lake Reeve – 52 km 2), fed by five major rivers: the Latrobe-Macalister-Thomson system, flowing into the western side of Lake Wellington; the Avon-Perry system flowing into the northern side of Lake Wellington; and the Mitchell, Nicholson and Tambo Rivers, all eastern rivers flowing into Lake King. Associated with the rivers and the shoreline of the four lagoons is a complex mosaic of fresh, brackish, and hyper- saline wetlands; the largest of these are the brackish-water Lake Coleman (~20 km 2), Dowd Morass (~15 km 2) and Macleod Morass (~5 km 2), and the ephemeral and often hyper-saline Lake Reeve wetlands. Of the remaining wetlands, only Sale Common (~2 km 2) remains naturally fresh. The combined surface area of the connected lakes and associated closed lagoons is 365 km 2 (Gippsland Coastal Board 2001). If the Gippsland Lakes is defined as extending from the western end of Lake Reeve to Red Bluff east of Lake Bunga, the catchment area contributing runoff to this system extends across ~20,300 km 2 of eastern Victoria (Figure 1), or ~10% of the total land area of the State. Figure 1: Digital elevation model (DEM) of Gippsland Lakes Catchment. Source: DEM from Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Victoria. 3 The Gippsland Lakes is a multi-component system with a wide range of marine, coastal, terrestrial, fluvial, and biological components and processes. Although the focus of the present study is the shorelines of the enclosed and semi-enclosed and linked lake basins that form the main body of the Gippsland Lakes, an understanding of the range of factors that contribute to the form and functioning of the lakes and its shorelines is needed to fully appreciate the geomorphological role played by fringing vegetation. Moreover, the past development of the lakes system and ongoing and future changes in the ecology and geomorphology of the lake shorelines are closely related to the evolution and dynamics of the Ninety Mile Beach and backing coastal sand barriers. Both the relict (inland) and active outermost (seaward) barriers determine the broad character of the system. They are very sensitive to changes in climate and sea-level on a short-term to long-term time scale. The broad character of the Gippsland Lakes and bordering lowland is determined by the topographical and geological character of the catchment, past and present climate, marine processes and changing sea-levels, the geomorphology and hydrology of inflowing rivers and the dynamics of contributing groundwater systems. Also relevant to understanding the present physical and associated biological systems that form the Gippsland Lakes are the direct, indirect, deliberate and inadvertent impacts of human activities. 1.1 Catchment geomorphology Descriptions of the landforms and geomorphological evolution of parts of the Gippsland Lakes catchment are included in several papers in McAndrew & Marsden (1971) and in the 1:250,000 geological report of VandenBerg & O’Shea (1981). Rosengren (1984) mapped the geomorphology and assessed geoscience sites across the entire catchment. The Victorian Geomorphology Review Group ( http://vro.depi.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/ ) has prepared maps showing the geomorphology of Victoria at various scales including all the Gippsland Lakes catchment. Land system studies (geology, landforms, vegetation and soils) of the entire catchment include Nicholson (1978) and Aldrick et al. (1988). Also of relevance to the Gippsland Lakes are studies of the form and evolution of the upland areas of south-eastern Australia. The timing and causes of uplift and the development of the modern mountain and drainage systems determine the source and rate of transfer of sediment to the Gippsland Basin. A wide range of views has been proposed – ranging from the uplands as remnants of ancient higher mountains to being geologically young with several phases of uplift occurring over the Cainozoic, (Andrews 1933; Wellman 1979, 1987; Lambeck & Stephenson 1986; Galloway 1987; Ollier 1987; Holdgate et al. 2008; VandenBerg 2010). A number of studies of the catchment have concentrated on the dynamics of fluvial systems and the nature and causes of river channel changes (Erskine et al. 1990) and implications of changes in sediment supply and soil erosion on the Gippsland Lakes (Rutherfurd 1994; Wilkinson et al. 2005; Robinson & Sargant 2010). The Gippsland Lakes catchment displays a wide array of topography and slope morphology. The major streams that flow into the Gippsland Lakes originate in some of the highest terrain in south-eastern Australia, including areas that experience several months of snow cover. The catchment boundary between the headwaters of the Tambo River and Thomson River forms 4 part of the Great Divide in Victoria. The highest elevation in all the catchment is Mount Hotham (1862 m) at the headwaters of the Dargo River, a major tributary of the Mitchell River. Mount Bogong (1986 m) is north of the Divide and not part of the Gippsland Lakes catchment. Much of the northern catchment is over 1200 m elevation with extensive areas of tableland and elevated plains flanked by escarpments. Most of the upland terrain is a dense network of steep gradient streams and border ing valley slopes separated by narrow ridges. Locally deep weathering of rocks of varying resistance, slope movements (in part occasioned by periglacial freeze-thaw), and energetic fluvial action in response to tectonic uplift has combined to define the li thological and structural control of many landforms of the upland catchment. Long deeply incised valleys with gorge sectors and narrow floodplains are characteristic of all the major rivers and extend across the break -of-slope at the southern Palaeozoic bo undary across the plains of Neogene sediments that border the Gippsland Lakes. Between 100 and 150 m above sea -level is an abrupt boundary where t he elevated terrain descends to the plains and stepped terraces bordering the La Trobe River and the East Sale Plain and Munro Plain north of the Gippsland Lakes (Figure 2) . This boundary defines the southern limit of Palaeozoic rock outcrop ping across Gippsland (Figure 3). Figure 2: Profile drawn from DEM, Mount Hotham to Ocean Grange, showing elevation, tablelands, ridge & valley terrain and lowland plains . Source: DEM from Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Victoria. 1.2 Catchment geology There is an extensive lite rature dealing with aspects of the geology of Gippsland including the area of the Gippsland Lakes catchment. Several papers in McAndrew and Marsden (1971) and the comprehensive analysis of VandenBerg et al. (2000) and Birch (2003) provide stratigraphic and structural analysis of Palaeozoic basement rocks and reconstructions of the tectonic evolution of Gippsland. These regional analyses incorporate the earlier literature including the pioneering work of Howitt (1875, 1876). The Gippsland B asin has been a focus for detailed studies initially targeting the extent and environments of deposition of onshore brown coal, and since the 1950’s the offshore hydrocarbon potential (Hocking 1976). Detailed stratigraphy of the Seaspray Group and reconstr uction of ancestral river and barrier systems has been the subject of recent studies e.g. Holdgate et al . (2003) and Mitchell et al . (2007). 5 Figure 3: Geology of Gippsland Lakes catchment. Source: 1:500,000 Geology Eastern Victoria, Geoscience Victoria. Basement geology of the highlands The elevated areas of the northern catchment are developed on Palaeozoic sediments and metasediments of the Tasman Fold Belt System, intruded by granitic plutons of Silurian to Late Devonian age (Figure 3). The largest area of granitic terrain is the Baw Baw granites in the headwaters of the La Trobe and Thomson Rivers, with moderately sized bodies in the Mitchell, Nicholson and Tambo valleys. The basement geologies are dominated by siliciclastic sediments including thick sandstone and mudstone units.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Action Statement No.134
    Action statement No.134 Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 Yarra Pygmy Perch Nannoperca obscura © The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2015 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. You are free to re-use the work under that licence, on the condition that you credit the State of Victoria as author. The licence does not apply to any images, photographs or branding, including the Victorian Coat of Arms, the Victorian Government logo and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) logo. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Cover photo: Tarmo Raadik Compiled by: Daniel Stoessel ISBN: 978-1-74146-670-6 (pdf) Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Accessibility If you would like to receive this publication in an alternative format, please telephone the DELWP Customer Service Centre on 136 186, email [email protected], or via the National Relay Service on 133 677, email www.relayservice.com.au. This document is also available on the internet at www.delwp.vic.gov.au Action Statement No. 134 Yarra Pygmy Perch Nannoperca obscura Description The Yarra Pygmy Perch (Nannoperca obscura) fragmented and characterised by moderate levels is a small perch-like member of the family of genetic differentiation between sites, implying Percichthyidae that attains a total length of 75 mm poor dispersal ability (Hammer et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Thomson River-Rainbow Creek
    WEST GIPPSLAND CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY Thomson River-Rainbow Creek Waterway Management Plan 2020 Acknowledgements The Thomson Rainbow Waterway Management Plan was co-developed through the collective effort of a number of individuals and organisations, including: • Project Working Group members: Cr. Carolyn Crossley (Chair), Trevor Astbury, Norm Drew, Beverly Hookey, Merv Whittaker, Phil Taylor, Malcolm Stewart and representatives from Gippsland Water, Wellington Shire Council, Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation, Southern Rural Water and the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority • Project Steering Committee members: Southern Rural Water and the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority • Project Team: Natural Decisions (Geoff Park and Anna Roberts), Blue Sense Consulting (Michelle Dickson), Professor Ian Rutherfurd, and Water Technology (consulting support) • Interested community members and landholders who participated in community forums and the supporting studies for this plan. Acknowledgement of Country The West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority would like to acknowledge and pay our respects to the Traditional Land Owners of the Thomson – Rainbow Creek area, the Gunaikurnai people. We also recognise the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations in land and natural resource management. Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA) and its consultants and employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purpose. The mapping and modelling outputs represented in this Plan are not definitive and provided for indicative purposes only. It therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.
    [Show full text]
  • DUCK HUNTING in VICTORIA 2020 Background
    DUCK HUNTING IN VICTORIA 2020 Background The Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2012 provide for an annual duck season running from 3rd Saturday in March until the 2nd Monday in June in each year (80 days in 2020) and a 10 bird bag limit. Section 86 of the Wildlife Act 1975 enables the responsible Ministers to vary these arrangements. The Game Management Authority (GMA) is an independent statutory authority responsible for the regulation of game hunting in Victoria. Part of their statutory function is to make recommendations to the relevant Ministers (Agriculture and Environment) in relation to open and closed seasons, bag limits and declaring public and private land open or closed for hunting. A number of factors are reviewed each year to ensure duck hunting remains sustainable, including current and predicted environmental conditions such as habitat extent and duck population distribution, abundance and breeding. This review however, overlooks several reports and assessments which are intended for use in managing game and hunting which would offer a more complete picture of habitat, population, abundance and breeding, we will attempt to summarise some of these in this submission, these include: • 2019-20 Annual Waterfowl Quota Report to the Game Licensing Unit, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries • Assessment of Waterfowl Abundance and Wetland Condition in South- Eastern Australia, South Australian Department for Environment and Water • Victorian Summer waterbird Count, 2019, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research As a key stakeholder representing 17,8011 members, Field & Game Australia Inc. (FGA) has been invited by GMA to participate in the Stakeholder Meeting and provide information to assist GMA brief the relevant Ministers, FGA thanks GMA for this opportunity.
    [Show full text]
  • Jervis Bay Territory Page 1 of 50 21-Jan-11 Species List for NRM Region (Blank), Jervis Bay Territory
    Biodiversity Summary for NRM Regions Species List What is the summary for and where does it come from? This list has been produced by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPC) for the Natural Resource Management Spatial Information System. The list was produced using the AustralianAustralian Natural Natural Heritage Heritage Assessment Assessment Tool Tool (ANHAT), which analyses data from a range of plant and animal surveys and collections from across Australia to automatically generate a report for each NRM region. Data sources (Appendix 2) include national and state herbaria, museums, state governments, CSIRO, Birds Australia and a range of surveys conducted by or for DEWHA. For each family of plant and animal covered by ANHAT (Appendix 1), this document gives the number of species in the country and how many of them are found in the region. It also identifies species listed as Vulnerable, Critically Endangered, Endangered or Conservation Dependent under the EPBC Act. A biodiversity summary for this region is also available. For more information please see: www.environment.gov.au/heritage/anhat/index.html Limitations • ANHAT currently contains information on the distribution of over 30,000 Australian taxa. This includes all mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs and fish, 137 families of vascular plants (over 15,000 species) and a range of invertebrate groups. Groups notnot yet yet covered covered in inANHAT ANHAT are notnot included included in in the the list. list. • The data used come from authoritative sources, but they are not perfect. All species names have been confirmed as valid species names, but it is not possible to confirm all species locations.
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Condition of Rivers and Streams in the Latrobe, Thomson and Avon Catchments
    ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION OF RIVERS AND STREAMS IN THE LATROBE, THOMSON AND AVON CATCHMENTS Publication 832 March 2002 1 INTRODUCTION activities have contributed to a significant change in the quantity and quality of water delivered to Lake This publication provides an overview of the Wellington and there is a significant amount of environmental condition of the rivers and streams in public concern regarding impacts on the health of the Latrobe, Thomson and Avon catchments1 (Figure the Gippsland Lakes. 1). The Latrobe and Thomson river systems, for The Latrobe, Thomson and Avon catchments contain example, contribute approximately twice the some of Victoria’s most significant river systems. nutrient inputs to the Gippsland Lakes than all other Located in the Gippsland region of Victoria, these riverine inputs. The most significant nutrient loading three river systems form the total catchment of Lake is associated with high flow events and reflects the Wellington, the western-most of the Gippsland increased surface runoff and erosion caused Lakes. The demands on these freshwater resources through land clearance and urbanisation. are considerable. Australia’s largest pulp and paper It is commonly agreed that the only long-term mill, most of the State’s power industry, much of solution for improving the condition of Lake Melbourne’s water supply and the State’s second Wellington is to significantly reduce the nutrient largest irrigation district fall within their catchment loads from the Latrobe and Thomson river systems. boundaries. Restoration of the catchments to a more sustainable Much change has occurred in these catchments land use, revegetating riparian zones and reducing since early settlement.
    [Show full text]
  • And Hinterland LANDSCAPE PRIORITY AREA
    GIPPSLAND LAKES and Hinterland LANDSCAPE PRIORITY AREA Photo: The Perry River 31 GIPPSLAND LAKES AND HINTERLAND Gippsland Lakes and Hinterland AQUIFER ASSET VALUES, CONDITION AND KEY THREATS Figure 25: Gippsland Lakes and Hinterland Landscape Priority Area Aquifer Asset Shallow Aquifer The Shallow Alluvial aquifer includes the Denison and Wa De Lock Groundwater Management Areas. It has high Figure 24: Gippsland Lakes and Hinterland Landscape connectivity to surface water systems including the provision Priority Area location of base flow to rivers, such as the Avon, Thomson and Macalister. The aquifer contributes to the condition of other Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems including wetlands, The Gippsland Lakes and Hinterland landscape priority area estuarine environments and terrestrial flora. The aquifer is characterised by the iconic Gippsland Lakes and wetlands is also a very important resource for domestic, livestock, Ramsar site. The Gippsland Lakes is of high social, economic, irrigation and urban (Briagolong) water supply. The shallow environmental and cultural value and is a major drawcard aquifer of the Avon, Thomson, Macalister and lower Latrobe for tourists. A number of major Gippsland rivers (Latrobe, catchments is naturally variable in quality and yield. In many Thomson, Macalister, Avon and Perry) all drain through areas the aquifer contains large volumes of high quality floodplains to Lake Wellington and ultimately the Southern (fresh) groundwater, whereas elsewhere the aquifer can be Ocean, with the Perry River being one of the few waterways naturally high in salinity levels. Watertable levels in some in Victoria to have an intact chain of ponds geomorphology. areas have been elevated due to land clearing and irrigation The EPBC Act listed Gippsland Red Gum Grassy Woodland recharge.
    [Show full text]
  • Central Region
    Section 3 Central Region 49 3.1 Central Region overview .................................................................................................... 51 3.2 Yarra system ....................................................................................................................... 53 3.3 Tarago system .................................................................................................................... 58 3.4 Maribyrnong system .......................................................................................................... 62 3.5 Werribee system ................................................................................................................. 66 3.6 Moorabool system .............................................................................................................. 72 3.7 Barwon system ................................................................................................................... 77 3.7.1 Upper Barwon River ............................................................................................... 77 3.7.2 Lower Barwon wetlands ........................................................................................ 77 50 3.1 Central Region overview 3.1 Central Region overview There are six systems that can receive environmental water in the Central Region: the Yarra and Tarago systems in the east and the Werribee, Maribyrnong, Moorabool and Barwon systems in the west. The landscape Community considerations The Yarra River flows west from the Yarra Ranges
    [Show full text]
  • The Gippsland Lakes Fishery
    The Gippsland Lakes fishery An overview The Gippsland Lakes are a network of lakes, marshes and lagoons in east Gippsland, covering an area of about 354 square kilometres. The waterway is collectively fed by the Avon-Perry, Latrobe, Mitchell, Nicholson and Tambo rivers and a number of smaller creeks and comprises several large lakes including Lake Wellington, Lake King and Lake Victoria. The region supports a range of natural values important to fisheries resources and is home to several commercial and recreational fisheries. Fishing in the Lakes provides significant value to recreational and commercial fishers, consumers of commercially caught fish and the broader local community. Both sectors are economically important to the region. Commercial fishing in Gippsland Lakes Commercial fishing in Gippsland Lakes is authorised under a number of commercial fishing licences. Those that use nets to harvest fish include Gippsland Lakes Fishery Access Licences, Gippsland Lakes (Bait) Fishery Access Licences and Eel Fishery Access Licences. There are currently ten Gippsland Lakes Fishery Access Licence holders who use a range of methods (mostly mesh and haul seine nets) to harvest a range of species, ten Gippsland Lakes (Bait) Fishery Access Licence holders who use dip and seine nets (and other equipment) to harvest species such as anchovies, spider crabs, bass yabby and marine worms and two Eel Fishery Access Licence holders who use fyke nets to catch long and short finned eels. Commercial catch and value The annual catch of all species by commercial fishers in the Gippsland Lakes since the 1978/79 fishing season can be seen in Figure 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Victorian Coastal Awards for Excellence 2008
    1 coastlineEdition 43. ISSN 1329-0835 autumn update 2008 State Coordinator’s Message In this issue Matthew Fox Statewide Program Coordinator State Coordinator’s Message 1 I’d like to welcome you to Coastline Autumn Update; the first for me in the role of State Coordinator, Approach to diversity and the first in this new newsletter format. The new-look newsletter has been developed to better rewarded 1 inform those with an interest in Victoria’s coast. There will be an issue in autumn, winter and spring Keeping up with change 2 Victorian Coastal Awards and in summer, the usual Coastline magazine will be printed and distributed. In the interests of for Excellence 2008 2 reducing our environmental footprint, we have decided to distribute this newsletter electronically. Twitchers wanted 3 By doing so, we have already saved more than half a tonne of paper, as well as avoiding the few Coastal heroes 3 hundred kilograms of carbon emissions involved in the statewide transport process. We hope that you Rangers vegetation management workshop 3 find theCoastline Update both informative and useful, and we welcome your contributions. If you Coastal Fun 4 Kids 4 would like to contribute to the Update, please drop us a line or contact your local facilitator. Apollo Bay Music Festival cooler than ever 4 Evolution of estuary monitoring 4 Approach to diversity rewarded Venus Bay fox control project 5 The efforts of the Coast Action/Coastcare Easter by the Estuary 5 (CA/CC) team to build inclusiveness into its Grants available for volunteers 6 programs and projects, has been recognised Reporting on catchment health 6 with a DisAbility award from the Department of Coming Events 6 Coast Action/ Sustainability and Environment.
    [Show full text]
  • West Gippsland Region
    Powlett River. Courtesy WGCMA The West Gippsland region is diverse and characterised by areas of natural forest, West areas of high conservation value, fertile floodplains for agriculture, as well as having Gippsland major coal deposits and the Loy Yang, Hazelwood and Yallourn power stations. Region Three river basins form the region – Thomson (basin 25), Latrobe (basin 26) and South Gippsland (basin 27). West Gippsland Region In the north of the region is the Thomson basin, Hydrology characterised by the naturally forested Eastern Highlands. At the foot of the highlands are two major dams - Lake The hydrological condition of streams across the West Glenmaggie and the Thomson dam. Over half (55%) of Gippsland region reflects the varied land use - from natural the stream length in the Thomson basin was found to be and near natural flow regimes in headwater streams in in good or excellent condition. Of the remainder, 41% of forested areas of the region to flow regimes under immense stream length was in moderate condition and just 3% stress in areas dependent on water supply for domestic and 1% in poor and very poor condition respectively. and agricultural use. In the centre of the region is the Latrobe basin. The basin Thomson Dam provided 12,046 ML of environmental water features vast tracts of forest through the Strezlecki Ranges in 2011-12 for six reaches on the Thomson River (reaches and the Great Dividing Range, where streams rise and flow 1-5) and Rainbow Creek (reach 17) and Lake Glenmaggie to Lake Wellington in the east. Although much of the land provided 14,018 ML of environmental water to two reaches has been cleared for agriculture, the dominant land use is on the Macalister River (reaches 7 and 8).
    [Show full text]
  • Barwon-Darling River System
    Assessment of environmental water requirements for the Northern Basin review: Barwon-Darling river system DRAFT ''Near to final' draft for independent review - 2 May 2016 'Near to final' draft for independent review - 2 May 2016 Executive summary The Basin Plan provides a framework for the management of the water resources of the Murray- Darling Basin. The objectives of the Basin Plan include to protect and restore water-dependent ecosystems and functions, with the aim of achieving a healthy working Murray-Darling Basin. Prior to the making of the Basin Plan in 2012, the environmental water requirements of 24 large environmental assets (known as umbrella environmental assets) across the Murray-Darling Basin were assessed. These assessments, along with information from other disciplines, were used as part of the implementation of the peer reviewed Environmentally Sustainable Level of Take method to inform the setting of long-term average Sustainable Diversion Limits in the Basin Plan. At the time of the making of the Basin Plan, it was decided that there would be a review into aspects of the Basin Plan in the northern Basin. The Northern Basin review includes research and investigations in social and economic analysis, hydrological modelling, and environmental science, supported by stakeholder engagement. The review is re-applying the established Environmentally Sustainable Level of Take method. This review has gathered new data and knowledge from a range of disciplines including environmental science. The review may lead to the re-setting of the Sustainable Diversion Limits for the northern Basin. The environmental science program within the Northern Basin review focused on relationships between river flows and the ecological responses of key flora and fauna (particularly fish and waterbirds) as well as broader ecological functions.
    [Show full text]
  • Water Allocation Trading Strategy 2019-20
    Water allocation trading strategy 2019-20 June 2019 Final Version collaboration integrity commitment initiative Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the VEWH and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Accessibility If you would like to receive this publication in an alternative format, please contact the VEWH on 03 9637 8951 or email [email protected]. This document is also available on the internet at www.vewh.vic.gov.au. Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners The VEWH proudly acknowledges Victoria’s Aboriginal communities and their rich culture and pays respect to their Elders past and present. We acknowledge Aboriginal people as Australia’s first peoples and as Traditional Owners and custodians of the land and water on which we rely. We recognise the intrinsic connection of Traditional Owners to Country, and we value their ongoing contribution to managing Victoria’s landscapes. We also recognise and value the contribution of Aboriginal people and communities to Victorian life and how this enriches us. The VEWH recognises the intersection between environmental flow objectives and outcomes for Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Victorians. We acknowledge the ongoing contribution that Aboriginal people are making to planning and managing water for the environment and the benefits that have resulted from these partnerships. The contribution of Traditional Owners to this year’s seasonal watering plan is detailed in the regional introductions.
    [Show full text]